• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning Management

How the Tampa Bay Lightning Are Changing Their City

By The Hockey Writers July 29th, 2017

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

When I told my uncle that I was going to be writing about the Tampa Bay Lightning online, he was ecstatic. Not as much about the writing part, but more so the Lightning. Even though I knew Tampa had a loaded team under GM Steve Yzerman, I was pretty confused. My uncle is a lifelong Bruins fan, like myself, so the Lightning just seemed like a random team for him to be so enamored with. He talked about their owner and how great he is. Sure, I thought, sounds great. I didn’t think too much of it.

I got home that night, and I was still curious about what he said. So, I decided to do some reading and see what I could find. Turns out Jeff Vinik, the Lightning’s current owner, is pretty great at what he does. He’s why you’ll find articles titled, “Are The Tampa Bay Lightning The Best Buy In NHL History?”

Changing the City of Tampa

Steven Stamkos

Steven Stamkos leads the growing Lightning both on and off the ice. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

Any time a team tries to move to a new city or build a new stadium they make claims about “revitalizing downtown.” They promise economic development in exchange for the millions it costs to build stadiums these days — makes sense. You get more people coming and spending their money, you get more economic growth.

Of course to spend money, there needs to be shops and restaurants nearby, which is what Vinik is currently trying to do. Back in 2014, he announced his plan to finally finish, the currently incomplete, downtown Tampa.

The Tampa Bay Lighting owner on Wednesday rolled out his long-awaited $1 billion “vision plan” to build nearly 3 million square feet of development along the city’s waterfront. “What we’re doing is completing the plan city planners dreamed up long ago,” Vinik told an approving throng of VIPs who gathered at his Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina for the glitzy unveiling.

Jamal Thalji

This project shows two things about Vinik, that he cares about Tampa and that understands the modern fan. The reason it shows he cares is purely due to the price tag of this endeavor. While the project was originally reported at around $1 billion dollars, a more recent Forbes article has the whole thing pegged at $3 billion. Not exactly a small sum. It’s also important to note how this dedication to the area builds trust and support with the same locals Vinik is trying to attract as Lightning fans.

Creating an Experience for Tampa Bay Lightning Fans

That first part is pretty easy to understand. It’s the idea of the modern fan that’s more abstract.

Today, less and less people will attend a hockey, football or baseball game purely for the game itself. The modern fan requires more incentive to spend their money because they could easily just watch the game at home. That incentive comes by creating more of an experience.

It’s exactly why Nashville has flourished. Going to a game at Bridgestone Arena is unlike anything else in the NHL. Obviously there’s the fans, but there’s also the surrounding area. By adding a great nightlife in addition to the guys chasing a puck around a sheet of ice you get a great product. That’s what has kept attendance fairly regular over the past six years despite varying amounts of success.

2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues at Bridgestone Arena. (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

The Big Picture

The “vision plan” also calls for more residential properties downtown, a new medical campus for USF and more hotels on top of the “high energy” development next to Amalie. All these should help to create that Nashville experience which is essential if Vinik wants fans to get off their couch and spend their disposable income. Right now they’re already on their way. After all my uncle did rave about one Irish bar right across from Amalie Arena. If they can keep creating places like that, you can expect to see the Vinik become an even richer man.

 

 

  • Tags
  • Amalie Arena
  • Jeff Vinik
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 27th 12:15 PM
Archives

The Best of ‘Mr. Goalie’ Glenn Hall

Jan 27th 12:05 PM
Column

Prospects News & Rumors: Savoie, Dorofeyev & Duke

Jan 27th 11:15 AM
Archives

Best NHL Players Not in the Hockey Hall of Fame

Jan 27th 11:05 AM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Newcomers Have Been Hit and Miss

Jan 27th 10:25 AM
Ottawa Senators

Senators’ 2020-21 Early Recap and Predictions

Jan 27th 10:15 AM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Weekly: Prospects, Smith, Chara & More

Jan 27th 10:05 AM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Weak First Period Proves to Be Costly in Loss to Maple Leafs

Jan 27th 9:55 AM
Other Leagues

Sabres Prospects: 5 Amerks Players to Watch When the AHL Resumes

Jan 27th 9:45 AM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Inaugural Roster – Where Are They Now?

Jan 27th 9:35 AM
Colorado Avalanche

3 Takeaways From Avalanche’s 7-3 Trouncing of Sharks

Editor’s Picks
Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information